T N MANJUNATHA Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Petitioner/sole accused in Crime No.459/2024 of Attibele Police Station, Bengaluru, registered for offences punishable under Sec. 8 and 12 of POCSO Act, 2012 and Sec. 352 of BNS, 2023 has preferred this petition under Sec. 483 of BNSS, 2023, to enlarge him on bail.

(2.) Heard the learned counsel for petitioner, learned Additional SPP for the State and perused the material on record.

(3.) Brief facts of the case:- On 21/11/2024, Smt.Shyamala, a resident of Attibele, contacted the child helpline, and call was received by one Madan. During the call, Smt.Shyamala reported that Manjunatha, the petitioner, who was employed as a Government School teacher in Attibele, had allegedly been engaging in inappropriate conduct with her daughter. Acting on the said information, Madan relayed the complainant to the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO). Subsequently, the defacto complainant, accompanied by several social workers, proceeded to the school premises. Upon inquiry, the victim, a 13 year old student in the VII Standard, disclosed that on 15/11/2024, around 3.00 p.m., the accused had called her to the vicinity of the bathroom under the pretext of giving her a sweet (chikki) and touched her inappropriately. Further, five other girls of VII standard also reported similar incidents, wherein the accused allegedly lured them with sweets and small monetary incentives, such as Rs.5.00 for snacks, and subsequently engaged in inappropriate touching and also watching them when they were going to toilet, abusing them using foul language etc.